Delhi Airport’s Terminal 2 to be shut for few months, announces DIAL
PTC Web Desk: The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi will temporarily close Terminal 2 (T2) for four to five months starting April, as part of an expansion and upgrade plan, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) announced on Wednesday. Alongside, one of the airport’s runways will also remain non-operational for enhancements.
IGI Airport, which currently handles over 109 million passengers annually, has three terminals: T1, T2, and T3. The 15-million-passenger capacity of T2 will be shifted to T1, which is being prepared to accommodate the additional traffic. DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar stated that T1 would be fully operational by March 15, ensuring a smooth transition for passengers. T1 currently has a capacity of 40 million passengers per year.
To meet increasing air traffic demands, DIAL will convert Pier C of T3, which is currently used for domestic flights, into an international flight section. This move will expand the international passenger handling capacity to 32 million, ensuring smoother operations for at least the next five years, based on airline projections.
Currently, T3 was originally designed to handle 34 million international passengers but is managing 45 million annually. The daily average international passenger load is 67,000 to 68,000, which translates to approximately 24 million passengers per year, exceeding T3’s rated capacity of 20 million by 20%.
Along with terminal upgrades, one of IGI Airport’s runways will be closed for four to five months starting in April to facilitate the installation of an upgraded Instrument Landing System (ILS). The upgrade aims to make the runway CAT III B compliant, enabling improved flight operations during low-visibility conditions, such as dense fog during Delhi’s winters.
DIAL aims to complete the runway upgrade before the next winter season, ensuring better operational efficiency and passenger safety.
- With inputs from agencies
